{
  "id": 114280,
  "title": "Morning Briefing: Record for Dax, crisis for car manufacturers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/morning-briefing-rekord-beim-dax-krise-bei-den-autobauern",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-04T04:18:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/meinung/morningbriefing/morning-briefing-rekord-beim-dax-krise-bei-den-autobauern/100244671.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Good morning, dear readers. On Monday, the Dax index broke the 26,000-point mark for the first time and reached a new record - but Germany's most important industry is just watching. BMW, Mercedes, and VW have so far been among the biggest losers of the stock market year. The figures published by Handelsblatt today show profound upheavals: the profit margins of BMW and Mercedes in the core car business have fallen below the level of mass manufacturers in the first half-year. Analyst Matthias Schmidt puts it into perspective: the reason is that the China business is collapsing - and German premium manufacturers have little to counter it. The combustion engine business, which they have mainly relied on in China, is collapsing, and they play no role in electric cars. In addition, there are US tariffs, for which there is no deal in sight, and rising material costs due to the Iran war. Even the growing electric car market in Europe is of little help. This mix is eroding profits. The pressure to find a solution is growing. In China, for example, manufacturers must tailor their offerings more closely to the market. But this hides a dilemma: locally suitable models and a lower cost base could dilute the premium brands.",
  "summary": "The Dax is rising to a record level, but precisely Germany's flagship industry is stumbling: BMW, Mercedes and VW are losing their footing.",
  "key_points": [
    "DAX index reaches 26,000-point mark for first time",
    "BMW, Mercedes, VW among biggest losers in stock market year",
    "Profit margins of premium manufacturers fall below mass manufacturers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Morning Briefing Podcast: Luxury Car Manufacturers: Core Business is Shaking / Palantir is Growing Rapidly - and Polarizing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/morning-briefing-podcast-premiumautobauer-kerngeschaft-wankt-palantir",
        "published": "2026-08-04T04:13:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}